Zithern



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL E. HOLT Z, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ZITHERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,535, dated February17, 1880.

Application filed June 25, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL E. HOLTZ, of St.Louis, Missouri, have invented an Improved Zithern, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of musical instruments known aszitherns.

My improvement and its advantages will first be fully described, and thenovel features thereof pointed out in the claim.

Of the drawings, Figure l is a plan view; Fig. 2, a sectional elevationtaken on line 00 m.

A B O D constitute the main framework, each part being solid pieces ofwood cut or shaped and united together, as shown in figures. The dottedlines indicate how far each of said pieces extends into the body of theinstrument. E is the bottom board, which fits flush over the bottom ofthe frames. F is the sounding-board, having the opening atf. Said boardis united over the top of A O D, so as to fit flush with the top of B atthe curved dotted line. G is a front facing.

I prefer to construct the instrument to have the shape or desigi'i asshown, so as to present its greater area with the bass strings closestto the player, while the treble strings and less area of the instrumentexist farthest away from the player.

The strings c are, therefore, all passed over the sounding-board fromthe tuning-keys c (inserted in B) to the fastening edge, at 0 ofD. Iuse, by preference, metal strings, (brass and steel.) Near to the keysexists the ordinary bridge or rest 0 in my case shaped as shown in Fig.1.

d represents the bridge I have provided to obtain stronger, clearer, andmore melodious sounds. Also, the benefit of full resonance is had, sinceonly the ends of the bridge (I are supported on the solid frames of Aand C. The arrangement of the bridge d is such as to incline across thetop of the sounding-board, as shown, to suit the basso and treble natureof the strings or graduate the distance of each string between bothbridges. Each string can have a musical character or be numbered.

My instrument thus constructed is used by placing it so that the bassostrings are closest to while the remaining strings are farthest from theplayer. The left hand can play upon the basso strings while the rightplays upon the treble strings, the stringsin my case being vibrated. Theaddition of one or more bridges, d, gives greater strength and purerquality of tone.

WhatI claim is- The combination of the parts A B G D, the bottom E,sounding-board F, bridges or rests c d, tuning keys, and strings, allsaid parts being constructed and arranged as shown and described, toform the improved musical instrument, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL E. HOLTZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. HERTHEL, WILLIAM W. HERTHEL.

